Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum built on an impressive 2007 debut to claim the Cy Young Award in the National League last season. Lincecum, who is just 24 years old, finished 18-5 for the 72-90 Giants. He posted a 2.62 ERA in 33 starts and struck out a major league-leading 265 over 227 innings. The right-hander’s success may have kept the Giants from losing 100 games for the first time since 1985.

If there’s a 2009 breakout candidate with a chance to do what the Giants’ new ace did in 2008, it might be Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw, who turns 21 in March. He debuted with a quality start on May 25 and flashed promise on and off all summer, but Kershaw was at his best in September. He held hitters to a .219 average in five starts and a relief appearance, going 3-0 with a 3.45 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 28.2 frames.

The 6-foot-3 power pitcher also happens to be nearly a year younger than any other active hurler who has at least one major league start.

10 Youngest Active Pitchers
(minimum one MLB start)

Clayton Kershaw, LAD. . . LHP. . .03/19/88
Shairon Martis, Was. . . . RHP. . .03/30/87
Ryan Tucker, Fla. . . . . . RHP. . .12/06/86
Jonathon Niese, NYM. . .RHP. . .10/27/86
Chris Volstad, Fla. . . . . .RHP. . .09/23/86

Michael Bowden, Bos. . .RHP. . .09/09/86
Nick Adenhart, LAA. . . . RHP. . .08/24/86
Jaime Garcia, StL. . . . . .LHP. . .07/08/86
Tommy Hunter, Tex. . . .RHP. . .07/03/86
Phil Hughes, NYY. . . . . .RHP. . .06/24/86

It seems we’ve been waiting a long time for Phil Hughes to settle into the Yankees rotation, but among chart qualifiers, the 22-year-old right-hander is younger than all but nine of his peers.

There are 66 pitchers with a major league start who were 24 or younger on the final day of 2008 -- born since Jan. 1, 1984 -- and Hughes is one of the youngest despite his 21 major league starts. Results haven’t met unrealistic expectations, and a stress fracture in his ribcage sidetracked a disappointing 2008 in which he was 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA in eight outings.

With the Yankees signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and bringing back Andy Pettitte last week, Hughes probably spends most of 2009 at Triple-A Scranton. He’s still very young and gets another year to polish his game.

Lincecum (6/15/84) also is among the elite 66 as the 52nd-youngest pitcher with a major league start. So is Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir (1/24/84), who checks in at No. 61 on the list. The southpaw has posted a winning record in each of his four full seasons with the Rays, going 45-34 (3.51 ERA) during a stretch the team was 66 games under .500.

The list of 66 also includes Felix Hernandez and John Danks, as well as a host of pitching prospects worth tracking in spring training. A look at a Sweet 16 of this group appears on STATS Fantasy Advantage, the fantasy tool to make running your teams easier. For $19.95 for the entire 2009 season, you receive a portfolio that allows you to easily track your players, complete player news and notes regarding injuries and performance, access to STATS’ extensive databases and ‘Thom’s Take,’ which provides fantasy information and prospect features throughout the season. You may order STATS Fantasy Advantage at stats.com.